Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-13

vict the governments and their ENJOYS of
using language contrary to well-knOwn
rules OF construction and of adding 8
meaningless clause to the treaty. What
possible use could the clause be unless
intended to govern? 1t may be, there
fore, that Melish's map may show that the
Tooth meridian crosses Red river east of
Greer county. l only insist that the Ian
Guage of the treaty be followed in laying
down rules and giving Instructions to the
commissioners. 1t cannot be true thst
either or both parties can find or ascer-
tain what the treaty means unless they
take the whole language used. II is sup
posed that the business OF the commits
sion is to find the division line between
Spain and Mexico on the one side and the
United States on the other, and this can
not be done correctly If the commission is
restricted to the use of part of the Ian
gage of the treaty. l only insist that
the language OF the treaty be used in
giving instructions to the commissioners.
B. pleased to lay this communication
before the president, after reading it, |
respectfully ask his personal considers
ton of the letter. l am, very respect
fully. your obedient servant,
JOHN IRELAND,
Governor of Texas.
was of the opinion then, and am now,
thai the order making the detail was en-
tirely too restrictive in its character. The
habits and education of army officers in
culcate strict obedience to orders, and
permit of little or no latitude for discre-
ton.
believed then, and still believe, that
Texas had two points on which she could
Iightfully claim Greer county. First.
that it was undoubtedly the intention of
the contracting parties, as shown by the
treaty and preliminary correspondence
between Mr.. Adams and Count de Onis,
that the line between Spain and the
United States should be at the point
where Melish marked the l0O.h meridian
west from Greenwich. No one disputes
the fact that Melish places that meridian
east of the fork, and this, of course,
| would give Greer county to Texas. If
| the true Tooth meridian had been intended
| it would have been quite unnecessary and
meaningless to conclude the description
of the line with the words "all according
10 Melish's map as improved to 1915"
In the second place / hold that the
North Fork is the true Red river. The
orders, therefore, to the federal commits
sion to go and mark the point where the
Tooth meridian crosses Red river virtually
forbade them to consider our first posi-
ton at all. AS consequence the joint
commission resulted 10 q disagreement
the Texas commissioners being uLani-
nous for Texas, and the federal repre-
sentatives for the United States. The
practical good, however, resulting to
| Texas in the work of the commission is
the collection, in legal form, OF evidence
and proofs favoring the ownership of
Greer county by Texas.
| Under the treaty between the United
States and Texas, in 1888, 1t is agreed
that each COVE, nment snail own, possess
and epj y its territory as heretofore
| claimed or possessed, and over which it
has exercised jurisdiction, until a
boundary is agreed upon between the two
governments. The proof being over
whelming, with nothing to the contrary,
that Texas has from time almost i'm
memorial exercised ownership over the
territory she is. under the treaty just
spoken of, entitled to Greer county so
long as al agreement to the contrary is
not reached. While on this subject it
may be proper to state that Greer county
was organized as one Of the county mu-
/ III L
July, 1886.
l transmit herewith copy of the joint
| laborS of the commission, from which it
will be seen that the federal commission
introduced no proof to support its claims
except maps of it's own making. For the
public service rendered the state by the
! gentle men composing the Texas commits
sion the people ought to feel deeply CRATE
full.
| THE MILITIA.
| 1t is not creditable to Texas that she is
almost the only state in the Union that
has done nothing for its militia. In the
| last four years the executive has had &C.
casion several times 10 call out the vol
unteer forces, and it affords me great
| pleasure to state that upon every occasion
the volunteer companies, composed en-
tirely of young men, have responded will
| ingly and promptly to every call, although
| having no Commi,sariat, quartermaster,
or other departments for their comfort or
sustenance, and great credit is due them
therefor.
There is no finer material in the world
| from which to organize splendid volun-
teer army than the military spirit Texas
| now furnishes, and | recommend that a
| liberal appropriation be made for per-
| fecting the organic alton of our volunteers
| and providing for the wants of the men,
both when they are in actual service and
when undergoing the necessary training.
1t may be-and l trust it will be-true
| that the active service of an army III Texas
will not be needed, but the total neglect
of the federal agency to perform its obli-
CATION in giving US protection does not
encourage the hope that an army can be
| safely dispensed with. No state in the
federal Uni Il has or can surrender the
right and duty to protect her own people
ia case the federal government neglects to
do SO.
The fifth section OF the fourth article of
compact binds the United States to afford
all necessary protection to individual
states. S1e has obligated herself 10 take
the initiative, and to see to it that no
member of the family of states suffers in
life, liberty or property oy reason OF for
eign lawlessness or invasion, and when
she fails to do this she violates the most
sacred provisions of the compact.
In view of the experience of the past,
and the possibilities Of the future, 1t is
prudent to encourage as far as we can the
spirit and training OF our citizen soldiery.
| Therefore, l further recommend the
establishment Oy the state OF a perma-
nent drill and encampment ground where